Man Sues Apple Over “Misleading” Siri Advertising, Claims It Doesn’t Work As Advertised

Despite arriving in a blaze of glory back in October, it’s fair to say the Siri voice-recognition software is not what you’d consider to be the finished article.

Having said that, it’s the first real experimentation of such technology in the smartphone arena, meaning as consumers and tech enthusiasts, we’ve given Siri the benefit of leniency in error – not expecting the moon and stars from a feature still officially at Beta stage.

Unfortunately, such a notion doesn’t seem to have trickled through to one particular Yankee, who has taken exception to what he perceives as false advertising. Frank M Fazio of New York, represented by Robbins Geller, has filed a lawsuit against the Cupertino company, claiming that its famous supplementary commercials present a "misleading and deceptive message" about the capabilities of Siri.

iPhone 4S Siri

Fazio purchased his iPhone 4S device in Brooklyn in November, and seems somewhat aggrieved by what Siri is presented as on the ads, versus Siri in reality. Filed in a federal court in California, the suit reads:

"[I]n many of Apple’s television advertisements, individuals are shown using Siri to make appointments, find restaurants, and even learn the guitar chords to classic rock songs or how to tie a tie. In the commercials, all of these tasks are done with ease with the assistance of the iPhone 4S’s Siri feature, a represented functionality contrary to the actual operating results and performance of Siri."

Fazio reckons Siri isn’t quite so responsive in reality. Indeed, in some instances, he is said to have asked Siri for specific directions, after which "Siri either did not understand what Plaintiff was asking, or, after a very long wait time, responded with the wrong answer."

There’s no doubt that it can be somewhat frustrating when Siri doesn’t understand what is being said. Many feel as though it works best when you "put on" an American accent, while others find Siri only responds when you speak at a certain pace.

Siri

That doesn’t really add any respectability to what seems a rather ridiculous lawsuit, which goes on to brand Siri "at best, a work-in-progress." Apple has yet to respond to the suit, which asks for unspecified damages, and is unlikely to cause much interruption to Apple’s busy, Samsung-dominated lawsuit schedule.

Would love to hear what people think of this!

(via WSJ)

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